Apparatus for Applying Liquid Agents to Hair on the Head

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an apparatus for applying for liquid agents, such as hair cosmetics and/or dyeing and/or bleaching liquids, to hair on the head by means of wicks which are arranged in parallel rows and, on account of their capillary action, obtain the liquid agent from a reservoir chamber, with the wicks forming the tines of a comb.

The invention relates to an apparatus for applying liquid agents, suchas hair cosmetics and/or dyeing and/or bleaching liquids, to hair on thehead by means of wicks arranged in parallel rows which in particular dueto their capillary action receive the liquid agent from a reservoir.

Such an apparatus is known from DE 41 32 829 [GB 2,248,549]. This knownapparatus has a large number of parts, and is difficult to manufactureand use.

The object of the present invention is to improve an apparatus of theabove-described type in such a way that few parts are necessary foruniform distribution of the agent, manufacture is simplified, and use isfacilitated.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the fact thatwicks form the teeth of a comb.

Such an applicator requires no additional comb teeth; instead, the wicksthemselves arrange the hair. Sufficient hair gets between the wicks whenspaces are present between the wicks and/or the wick rows, and the widthof the spaces corresponds to at least half the diameter of the wicks.

It is preferred that the cross-sectional area transverse to thelongitudinal extensions of the wicks forms a square of 4, 9, or 16units. As a result of the arrangement of the wicks on a square or roundbase surface, no orientation direction is required during use, so thatthe hair may be treated equally uniformly in any position of theapparatus.

In one particularly advantageous design, comb teeth are provided inparticular parallel to the wicks, between and/or to the side of thewicks, thereby enhancing the combing action of the apparatus. It isadvantageous when the comb teeth are situated inside the wick rows.Manufacture and assembly are simplified and stability is achieved whenthe comb teeth are connected to a frame, in particular in one piece,that is attached to a wick holder (applicator holder) and/or to thewicks.

It is particularly advantageous when pointed projections of the wickholder protrude into indentations in the wick holder that accommodatethe wicks in order to prevent longitudinal shifting of the wicks. Thesepointed projections preferably do not constitute additional parts, butrather are integrally molded onto the wick holder.

Simple and secure penetration of the wicks into the hair is ensured whenthe free ends of the wicks have a tapered or rounded design.

The wicks may be composed of a fibrous material in order to havecapillary action for transporting the liquid agent. Alternatively, thewicks may be made of a sintered material. The wick holder may also bemade of the same sintered material, and the wicks and the wick holderare preferably designed as one piece, which allows a great variety ofshapes of the wick holder and in particular of the wicks.

One particularly simple and secure design is provided when the side ofthe wick holder facing away from the wicks contacts the contents of thereservoir. It is also advantageous when the wick holder has three orfour layers containing lateral semicylindrical or partially cylindricalindentations for the wicks. Such a shape of the wick holder allowsmultiple wick rows to be easily arranged and securely held.

To prevent the wicks from contacting the scalp, pin-shaped spacers areprovided next to the wicks that project out farther than the wicks.

If the wicks are made of a fragile or flexible material they may have aninternal insert. This insert may project outward and act as therespective spacer.

It is also advantageous when the wicks are produced with a supportingplate in the two-component injection molding process, thus allowing thewicks to be made of relatively soft plastic.

Several illustrated embodiments of the invention are illustrated insectional views in the drawings and described in greater detail below.The drawings show the following:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show designs with wicks inserted into a wick holder;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the wicks and wick holder in a one-piece design madeof sintered material, with comb teeth placed therebetween in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 through 8 show a one-piece wick holder having two rows ofinserted wicks;

FIG. 9 shows a one-piece wick holder having three rows of insertedwicks;

FIG. 10 is a section from FIG. 3 with comb teeth attached in a frame;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the design according to FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 through 14 show various embodiments of one-piece wicks and wickholders made of sintered material, each in two side views and one topview;

FIG. 15 is a section of nine wicks arranged in a square and connected tothe wick holder as one piece;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the design according to FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a wick holder with wicks in a one-piece design, and combteeth provided therebetween in a frame;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the design according to FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the design according to FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal view of a design with spacers on a sinteredmolded part;

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal section of a design with spacers next toindividual wicks;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the design according to FIG. 20 in acutaway view;

FIG. 23 shows a design with internally reinforced wicks in a sectionalview;

FIG. 24 shows the part forming the wicks in a top view;

FIG. 25 is a section along A-B in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 shows a design with internally reinforced wicks in a sectionalview;

FIG. 27 shows the part forming the wicks in a top view;

FIG. 28 is a section along A-B in FIG. 24;

FIG. 29 shows a design with two material components in a section A-B;and

FIG. 30 shows the design according to FIG. 29 in a top view.

In the design shown in FIG. 1 the applicator according to the inventionhas a cylindrical container 1 having a reservoir, in particular made ofbatting, located therein that is saturated with the liquid agent to beapplied. The container 1 is closed off at one end face by a wick holder3 through which extend multiple wicks 4 themselves extending parallel tothe container axis. The wicks 4 project beyond and on both sides of thewick holder 3, and their inner ends extend into the reservoir. The wicks4 are arrayed parallel to one another in parallel rows. The free ends onthe opposite side of the wick 4 project out far enough that they may bepassed through the hair in the manner of a comb in order to release theagent on the hair. The liquid agent is used for hair cosmetics and/ordyeing and/or bleaching.

The container 1 that acts as an applicator holder has a coaxial annularcollar starting at the container edge at the level of the wick holder 3and having an outer rear edge inserted into a housing 6 that enclosesthe container 1. On the side opposite the container 1 a cap 7 may bemounted on the annular collar 5 that protects the wicks when theapparatus is not in use. A conically expanding edge region 8 proceedsfrom the rim of the cap 7 and has an increasingly larger diameter awayfrom the reservoir, thereby forming an annular base for a stand by meansof which the apparatus may be stood upright.

The design illustrated in FIG. 2 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 inthat the housing 6 forms a base cap 9 on the side facing away from thewicks by means of which the housing 6 may be closed at the rear. Thisbase cap may have an internal support sleeve 10 that supports thereservoir wall.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 the wick holder 3 is designed asone piece with the wicks 4, and rests with its end facing away from thewicks flat against the reservoir 2 to enable the liquid to be taken up.Comb teeth 12 are situated in spaces 11 between the wicks 4 thatessentially assume a combing function during use. Comb teeth may also beprovided on the outer sides of the wicks, as shown in FIG. 3. The combteeth are omitted in the embodiment according to FIG. 4.

The spaces 11 located between the wicks 4 have a width B1, B2 that is atleast half the diameter D of the wicks 4. The wicks are arranged in asquare of 4, 9, or 16 units, as shown in FIG. 16 with nine wicks.Instead of a square arrangement, the wicks located on the outer edge mayalso be arranged in a circle. In a typical design the wicks are made ofa fibrous material that conveys the liquid by capillary action.Alternatively, the wicks and/or the wick holders in the designsaccording to FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, and 15 may be composed of sinteredmaterial, in which case the wicks and wick holders are preferablydesigned in one piece.

In this case the sintered materials conveying the liquid are composed ofmixtures of pulverized materials. The proportions of the individualmaterials in the mixture (such as PP and PE plastics) determine theresultant properties. In addition to the material composition, the grainsize, sintering temperature, and pore size determine the properties.

FIGS. 5 through 9 illustrate the manner in which a wick holder iscomposed of three interconnected holding layers 3 a through 3 c, eachhaving semicylindrical indentations 3 e for holding the wicks 3 afterthe holding layers are folded over. To prevent the wicks from slidinglongitudinally, pointed projections 15 that penetrate the material ofthe wicks 4 protrude into the indentations 3 e. These pointedprojections 15 are designed in one piece with the material of thelayers, i.e. the wick holder.

The illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 9 differs from that ofFIGS. 5 through 8 in that three rows of wicks 4 are held between fourwick holder layers 3 a through 3 d.

In the designs according to FIGS. 10, 11, and 17 through 19 the combteeth 12 (in particular designed in one piece) are connected to a frame14 that encloses the wicks 4 and/or the wick holder 3.

The embodiments according to FIGS. 12 through 14 have different shapesof the one-piece applicator. The wicks and wick holder are designed inone piece and are composed of a fibrous or sintered material. The freeends of the wicks 4 are pointed, gabled, or rounded, in particularhemispherical. The free ends taper in a semi-oval shape, or form two ormore tips.

FIGS. 20 through 22 illustrate pin-shaped spacers 16 made of plasticthat are attached axially parallel next to the wicks 4 in a row or rows,and whose free ends project beyond the free ends of the wicks, thuspreventing the wicks 4 from contacting the scalp. The spacers 16 have asmaller diameter than the wicks, and are externally positioned aroundand/or between the wicks. The diameter of the spacers 16 may taperoutward, in particular conically. The spacers 16 held by the wick holder3 may in particular be attached thereto, in particular integrally moldedthereon.

The number of spacers 16 is based on the number that ensures that asufficient distance is always provided between the ends of the wicks andthe scalp in any position of the apparatus. In the illustratedembodiment according to FIGS. 20 and 22, eight spacers 16 are arrangedin an outwardly enclosing row, spaced at equal distances.

In the illustrated embodiments according to FIGS. 23 through 28, thewicks 4 each have a longitudinal cavity 17, in particular made ofceramic, sintered, or fibrous material, thus forming a tubular design.In the design according to FIGS. 23 through 25, the cavities 17 areclosed at the outer end and are each filled by a reinforcing pin-shapedelement 18 that is enclosed in a form-fit manner and braces the wick 4.Additional spacers 16 are located on the outer side of and/or betweenthe wicks.

The illustrated embodiment according to FIGS. 26 through 28 differs fromthe previous illustrated embodiments in that the cylindrical cavity 17is open to the outside, and the pin-shaped reinforcing element 18projects beyond the wick 4 and also acts as a spacer 16, similar to thespacers described above.

In the illustrated embodiment according to FIGS. 29 and 30, the wicks 4are made of thermoplastic plastic, and at the back side are integrallymolded onto a first plate 19 made of the same material, and pass throughopenings in a second plate 20 that is composed of a thermoplasticplastic that is harder than the first plate 19. In this manner the wicks4 have sufficient flexibility and acquire adequate stability as a resultof the second plate 20.

In FIGS. 29 and 30 the wicks 4 are hollow and are open at the front end.However, as illustrated in FIGS. 23 through 35 [sic; 25], the wicks mayalso be closed at the front end. In addition, the cavity 17 may befilled by a reinforcing element 18.

On account of the porous, in particular open-pore, structure of theplastic of the wicks 4, it is possible for the liquid agent to flowoutward from the wicks, and/or to pass through the wick cavity 17 andemerge at the front, and/or to flow outward through thin channels (notillustrated) provided in the wall of the wick. A reinforcing element 18may be situated inside the wick cavity, as described above. The element18 does not hinder the liquid flow when the diameter of the element isslightly smaller than the internal diameter of the cavity 17.

1. (canceled)
 2. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the wicksare separated from one another a spacing corresponding to at least halfa diameter of the wicks.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 28 whereinthe array of wicks is substantially square and has 4, 9, or 16 wicks. 4.The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the comb teeth are providedto the wicks, between or spaced adjacent to the wicks.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 4 wherein the comb teeth are situated inside the wickrows.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a framecarrying the comb teeth attached to the wick holder or to the wicks. 7.The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the wicks project on bothsides from the wick holder, and the wick holder forms semicylindrical orpartially cylindrical indentations that enclose outer sides of thewicks, the wick holder having pointed projections that protrude into theindentations to prevent longitudinal shifting of the wicks.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 6 wherein the projections are integrallymolded onto the wick holder.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 28wherein free ends of the wicks have a tapered or rounded shape. 10-12.(canceled)
 13. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprisingfilling material in the reservoir, the one side of the wick holdercontacting the filling material of the reservoir.
 14. The apparatusaccording to claim 28 wherein the wick holder has three or four layerscontaining lateral semicylindrical or partially cylindrical indentationsfor the wicks.
 15. The apparatus according to claim, further comprisingspacers attached next to or between the wicks and having free endsprojecting out from the other side of the holder farther than free endsof the wicks.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein thespacers are pin-shaped and of plastic.
 17. The apparatus according toclaim 15 wherein the spacers enclose the wicks from outside.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 15 wherein the spacers are situated betweenthe wicks.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the spacersare situated axially parallel to the wicks.
 20. The apparatus accordingto claim 15 wherein the spacers have a smaller diameter than the wicks.21. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the spacers are attachedto the wick holder.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein thespacers taper generally conically outwardly.
 23. The apparatus accordingto claim 28 wherein the wicks each have a longitudinally throughgoingpassage.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein each wick has apin-shaped reinforcing element the respective passage.
 25. The apparatusaccording to claim 24 wherein the element completely fills the passage.26. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein each passage is closedoff at an outer end of the respective wick.
 27. The apparatus accordingto claim 24 wherein each passage is open at an outer end of therespective wick, and the reinforcing element in the form of a spacerprojects beyond the end of the wick.
 28. An apparatus for applyingliquid agents to hair on the head, the apparatus comprising: a wickholder having a pair of sides, one of the sides forming a reservoir forthe liquid agent; a plurality of rows of wicks in a substantiallyrectangular array, the wicks being and formed of a single sintered piecewith the holder, projecting from and forming comb teeth on the otherside of the holder, and being exposed at the one side thereof fordrawing liquid agent from the reservoir by capillary action through theholder.